Re: On the Issue of Sprawling Dromaeosaurs

[Christopher Collinson <Chris_Collinson@monarch.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dino Guy Ralph" <ralph.miller@alumni.usc.edu
> Please consider the following photograph of a marsh wren:
>
http://friendsofsherwoodisland.org/Photos/Hand/Land/AJH-marsh%20wren%20supersplit.jpg.
>
First this wren is not sprawling in the same manner that is associated with
the four wing sprawl hypothesis, where the femur would rotate forward and
up/out. In fact the femur as well as the tibia occupy near normal positions,
the knee is probably directed a little inward from its normal position so
that the ankle is oriented as far out ward as possible. Secondly I think
there may be a bit of an optical allusion at play here, making the right
ankle appear closer to the lens than it really is.

Cheers,
Christopher